SSP Group has appointed Satya-Christophe Menard as the new CEO of its Continental Europe division.
Menard joins SSP with two decades of experience in the service industry, bringing significant expertise in the food and coffee sectors across both European and North American markets. His most recent role was president of the out-of-home division at JDE Peet’s, a leading coffee company. Prior to that, he served as the global CEO of Sodexo’s schools and universities division and held various leadership positions within Sodexo's international operations.
With extensive experience in developing profitable growth strategies for both B2B and B2C companies, as well as leading international and diverse teams, Menard will collaborate with colleagues across France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, and Iceland. His focus will be on driving growth and profitability while partnering with clients and brands to deliver market-leading food and beverage offerings.
Patrick Coveney, Group CEO of SSP, said: “Satya’s outstanding business skills and deep, relevant international experience will help us continue to maintain our strong regional and in-market leadership, which is central to our strategy, business model and culture. We’re certain that he will make a very valuable contribution to our business, and we look forward to welcoming him to the team.”
Satya-Christophe Menard said: “I’m delighted to join SSP as the new CEO for Continental Europe, leading the strategic direction for the region and joining the Group Executive Team at this exciting time in the company’s journey.
“Continental Europe is SSP’s largest division by sales, operating around 1,200 units and employing nearly 15,000 colleagues[1], and I’m looking forward to working with a diverse team across 14 countries.“
Menard will officially assume his new role on October 14, following a handover period with the current CEO for Continental Europe, Jeremy Fennell. Fennell will transition to the role of Group Chief Operating Officer, where he will collaborate with the Executive Committee to strengthen SSP’s capabilities in key areas such as digital and technology, customer experience, commercial operations, and supply chain management.